Boston College to host premiere of film about street children in Mexico and Brazil

By Boston.com Staff

The Boston College Graduate School of Social Work will host the United States premiere of a documentary about the lives of street children in Mexico and Brazil.

The 35-minute film, “When Home Is the Street,” by award-winning Brazilian filmmaker Thereza Jessouroun will be screened on Monday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in BC’s Robsham Theater Arts Center.

The movie focuses on children in the cities of Guadalajara and Rio de Janeiro and “brings to life stories of their resilience and transformation through the power of compassion and support,” according to a press release from BC.

“The compelling and haunting scenes, which ask viewers to contemplate the humanity of those sometimes most invisible among us, are universal,” the release said.

Alberto Godenzi, dean of the Graduate School of Social Work at BC, said the documentary resonates with the school’s values and mission.

“Our faculty and students have been engaged in innovative community-based projects that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable populations across the globe,” Godenzi said in a statement. “This documentary visualizes the hardships of life on the street and it demonstrates how various forms of social support can lead to a better future for marginalized children and youth.”

After the screening, there will be a discussion led by Irene Rizzini, who envisioned and developed the film project, which was funded through the Fetzer Institute. Rizzini is a professor of social work at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and founding director of the International Center for Research and Policy on Children.

The evening will conclude with a reception. The event is free and open to the public, but the school asks for those planning to attend to register here.

To see a trailer and slideshow for the documentary, click here.

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